Oscars 2012: The 10 Best Parent-Child Academy Award Moments

The Academy Awards are always fun to watch for their glitz, stunning fashions and -- of course -- recognition of great films. But in 2012, the Oscars also came complete with one very important reminder: thank your mother.

If you were playing along at home, there were enough parent-child love-fests last night to make for an even more festive drinking game than the Bridesmaid's 'Scorsese.' Some of the stars' moms got to kvell about their "babies" in a special pre-show segment called "Mominees," winners with little kids either brought them to the festivities or let them stay up a little later than usual, and more than one of the biggest names in Hollywood made their whole families get red-carpet ready and head to the show. (Unfortunately for Martin Scorsese, his daughter Francesca just looked bored.)

"My mom and dad and sister are here with me tonight, and to see them in the midst of all of this is almost keeping me calmer because I’m worried about them," said first-time presenter Melissa McCarthy. "On the way over, I said, 'Oh my God, I think we're going to the Oscars.'"

LOOK: The 10 Best Parent-Child Moments Of The 2012 Oscars

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In a pre-taped segment, ABC had the moms of Oscar nominees speak about their children -- because there aren't enough tears at the Oscars. George Clooney's mother said, "George went to L.A. when he was 20. He said I'm the best known unknown actor out here and I'm paying my bills and if that's all it ever is, that's OK ... I wanted him to pursue what he wanted to do."

Nothing makes a male lead more endearing than when his mother is his #1 lady.

Melissa McCarthy's mother was with her on the red carpet, along with her husband Ben Falcone. In an interview with correspondent Robin Roberts, McCarthy got choked up, saying: "[My parents] supported me for all the right reasons."

Hollywood's royal couple took Brad Pitt's mom and dad along for the red carpet ride.

And obviously, all Pitt was thinking about were his six beautiful children. Billy (as Brad) quipped, "How long is this show going to take? I've got six parent teacher conferences in the morning!"

After New Zealand native Bret McKenzie's "Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets" won the Oscar for Best Original Song, he adorably thanked his family for never making him "get a real job."

When Alexander Payne accepted his Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for "The Descendants," he made sure to shout out to his mother, Peggy:
"My mother is here with me from Omaha," he said. "After watching the show she made me promise if I ever won again that I would dedicate it to her the way Javier Bardem did. So, Mom, this is for you. Thanks for letting me skip nursery school so we could go to the movies."

As the oldest ever Oscar winner, Christopher Plummer couldn't resist cracking a few jokes during his acceptance speech. "I have a confession to make. When I first emerged from my mother's womb, I was already rehearsing my Oscar speech," he told the audience.

After accepting the award for Best Picture, "The Artist" director Michel Hazanavicius, pointed out that it was 6am in Paris -- and lovingly told his children to "go to bed in 30 seconds."